Flow indicator



Jan. 1, 1952 A, KEHM 2,580,928

FLOW INDICATOR Filed Oct. 5, 1950 FIG. 1.

Patented Jan. l, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT olrlflczfr?.```

Alex Kehm, Grand Island,'N'ebr.

Application October 3, 1950,` Serial No. 188,195

Thisinvention relates to a flow indicator for a conduit.

An object of this invention is to provide a flow indicator which isparticularly adapted to visually indicate the presence orl absence ofuid flow through a conduit. v

Another objectof this invention is to provide a'flow indicator which canbe secured in a pipe linewith speed and facility to visually indicatethe ow of fluid through the pipe line.

Aiurther object of this invention is to provide a flow indicator whichis particularly adapted for use in a horizontally disposed sewage systemconduit having la unidirectional sewage ow therethrough.

A still further object of this'in'vention'is to provide a flow indicatorwhich: is relatively simple in structure and cheap tomanufacture.

The -above and still further objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of the invention, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings,-

wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the uid ow indicator of the presentinvention, shown supported within a pipe line, the latter being brokenaway and shown in section; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, withthe flow indicating arm partially shown in elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals have been used throughout the several views to designate likeparts, there is shown the flow indicator of the present invention,generally designated by the reference numeral I0, supported within aflanged radial threaded hole II provided in the top wall of afluid-carrying conduit or pipe line I2.

The flow indicator I8 comprises an open-ended vertical sleeve I5 whichis externally threaded from its inward or lower end I6 to a point nearthe outward or upper end I'I, the sleeve being threaded in the hole IIof the conduit I2, the threaded portion of the sleeve l5 beingdesignated by the reference numeral IB. Contiguous its outer end Il thesleeve I5 is enlarged at I9 to provide a wrench-accommodating portion,to thereby permit the sleeve to be secured within the hole II of theconduit I2 with speed and facility.

The inward or lower end of the sleeve I5 has on the upstream sidethereof an extension 2l) which projects longitudinally beyond the sleeveCIT intothe interior of the conduit I2. .Pivotedon the extension 29 onan axis extending chordally of the sleeve I5 is a flow-indicating arm 2lwhich is arranged to be swung from a normaly gravityinduced,perpendicular position across thefcon'- duit' I2'to a iluid now-induced,horizontal posif tion across the lower end IB of the sleeve I5. 'Asclearly shown in Figure 2, the arm has its free end laterally andarcuately bent in the upstream direction to provide a vane 22, the vane22 being in the dependingposition in the horizontal posi# tion of thearm 2| so as to maintain the arm 2l in the horizontal position inresponse to the flow of iluid through the conduit I2, in the directionof the arrow. The pivotal support for the arm 2l includes an eye 23formed on the'supported end of the arm 2|, the eye receiving ahorizontally disposed pivot pin 24 carried by the extension20.

Mounted on the down stream face 25 ofthe arm 2I contiguous to the eyelet23 is a light reector 26 which is visually observable through the sleeveI5 when the arm 2I is in horizontal operated position, as illustrated inFigure 2.

Contiguous to and spaced from its end I5, the sleeve I5 is provided witha radially inwardly extending seat 2l. Bridging the interior of thesleeve I5 and resting upon the seat 2'I is a transparent sight glass 28which permits the visual observation of the reflector 26 carried by thearm 2|. Carried interiorly of the sleeve I5 is a locking tube 29 whichengages the sighting glass 28 and detachably secures the latter withinthe sleeve I5. The locking tube 29 is supported in threaded engagementwith the sleeve I5 and is provided with suitable notches, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 30, particularly adapting the lockingtube for actuation by a spanner wrench.

Interposed between the opposed faces of the sighting glass 28 and theseat 2l and the adjacent end of the locking tube 29 are the gaskets 3|and 32 which form a fluid-tight seal between the sleeve I5 and thesighting glass 28.

In actual use, the arm 2| normally depends in the position illustratedin phantom in Figure 2, when there is no fluid flowing through theconduit I2. Upon flow of iiuid through the conduit I2 in the directionindicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the arm 2| is urged into thehorizontal position illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the reflector 26 isvisually observable through the locking tube 29 and the sighting glass28. In this manner accurate visual indication of the presence or absenceof uid ilow through the conduit 4 side Wall of the pipe, said sleevehaving open;

outward and inward ends, a radially inwardly projecting seat at theinward end of the sleeve. a translucent glass seated on the seat, aretainer ring secured in the sleeve and holding the glass on the seat, a110W operated arm pivoted on the inward end of the sleeve to swing froma iirst position across the conduit to a second iiuid flowinducedposition across the inward end of said sleeve, and means on one side ofsaid arm visible through said glass while the arm is in the secondposition as a result of flow of uid through the conduit.

g 2. In combination, a fluid conduit having a top Wall formed with avertical axis hole, a vertical sleeve secured in the hole, said sleevehaving open upper and lower ends, the lower end being located at theunder side of the conduit top wall, an extension on the lower end of thesleeve on the upstream side thereof and depending below the sleeve intothe conduit, an arm having an end horizontally pivoted on said extensionon an axis extending' chordally with respect to said tube and having afree end, said arm normally occupying a gravity-induced dependingvertical position across the conduit and being adapted to occupy anelevated horizontal now-induced posi; tion across the lower end of saidsleeve, said arm having an upstream side and a downstream side,

a light reflector secured to the downstream side of the arm to registerwith the open lower end of said sleeve in the horizontal position ofsaid arm, and sight glass means extending across the .4 interior of saidsleeve for exposing the reector to light passing downwardly through thesleeve. 3. In combination, a fluid conduit having a. top wall formedwith a vertical axis hole, a vertical sleeve secured in the hole, saidsleeve having open upper and lower ends, the lower end being located atthe underside of the conduit top wall, an extension on the lower end ofthe sleeve on the upstream side thereof and depending below the sleeveinto the conduit, an arm having an end horizontally pivoted on saidextension on an axis extending chordally with respect to said tube andhaving a free end, said arm normally occupying -a gravity-induceddepending vertical position across the conduit and being adapted tooccupy an elevated horizontal now-induced position across the lower endof said sleeve, said arm having an upstream side and a downstream side,a light rector secured to the downstream side of the arm to registerwith the open lower end of said sleeve in the horizontal position ofsaid arm,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,090,669 Woodington Mar. 17,1914 1,257,824 Ebert Feb. 26, 1918 1,428,645 McDonnell Sept. 12, 19221,574,460 Williamson Feb. 23, 1926 2,034,373 Bilde Mar. 17, 19362,520,219 McDonnell Aug. 29, 1950

